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Autism Plus

In 1986 a group of young adults with autism were about to leave a specialist autism school. They had become close friends but there was no service available to support them throughout their adult lives. So their parents decided to set up their own service. They found an empty Victorian House with a large garden and created a community in which the autistic friends could live. From those first five people, more people moved in. Word of our services spread and we continued to grow to where Autism Plus is today; a leading charity supporting people with autism and disabilities.

We first delivered services at Thorne House near Doncaster, and we continue to work from there today. Princess Anne, as she was then, officially opened the site in 1987, 26 years later she returned (as The Princess Royal) to open our Head Office at the Exchange Brewery in Sheffield.

Pictured below: The Princess Royal visits Autism Plus Thorne House, Doncaster in 1987 and in 2013 meeting staff and service users on a tour of Autism Plus The Exchange Brewery, Sheffield.

Autism Plus services are tailored to the needs of every person we support, these include:

Residential facilities - group or individual living with a highly trained and dedicated support team.

Independent Living – for people who live in their own home or with their families. This support can be for just a few hours a week or 24 hours a day.

Activity choices - Activity choices helps people develop essential life skills and confidence by doing the things they enjoy. This includes activities such as drama and making music and using computers.

Employment services - we help people with autism, disabilities and complex conditions into the world of work.

Social enterprises - everyone has the right to paid employment in a meaningful role. We have developed social enterprises to support more disabled people into the world of work.

Children’s services, family support & transitions support - we provide children’s respite projects, working closely with several parent-led support groups. We also work with young people and their families in the transition from children’s to adult services.

If you would like to find out more about the services and support Autism Plus provide visit the website or telephone 0114 384 0284.